Ink disposal in cartridges

Abstract

An apparatus for assisting in the removal or waste or excess ink and a method for disposal of ink from electrophotographic printers comprises providing electrophotographic ink from a source, combining the ink with an absorbable material in a container to form a solid within the container, and closing the container so that the container with the solid inside may be disposed of without ink flowing from the container.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA[0001]This Application is a Divisional Application claiming priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 286,415, filed Oct. 3, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,213.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus using liquid toner and particularly to liquid ink or liquid toner cartridges that can be used to dispose of unused, overflow liquid ink or other unusable liquid ink or toner.[0004]2. Background of the Art[0005]Ink cartridges are known in the art for both ink jet and electrophotographic printing. Ink cartridges are used to introduce liquid or dry toner into a printer for use in printing and may be used for waste toner disposal as well. Some examples of combination cartridges include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,009,289 and 6,363,233 for dry toner cartridges and U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,421 for ink jet cartridges.[0006]An electrophotographic apparatus that uses liquid toner realizes seve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]In one aspect of the invention, a method for disposing of waste liquid electrophotographic ink is described. The method includes providing waste amounts of a liquid electrophotographic ink, combining the ink with an absorbent, preferably combining the ink with the absorbent in an ink disposal cartridge, and then disposing of the combination. The absorbent with the ink may be removed from the cartridge for disposal or the cartridge containing the ink and absorbent can be disposed of in a landfill. This can be done because the combination of ink and absorbent will retard flow of the ink and its components or residue from leaking into the environment. The retardation is so significant that the combination of ink and absorbent can pass environmental standards tests for landfill materials. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent prevents impermissible toxic leaching into the environment. The absorbent may also have a catalyst, bacteria or active ingredient therein that will assist in the breakdown of the ink into environmentally acceptable materials.

Problems solved by technology

The use of liquid toner in an electrophotographic apparatus has problems as well.

When the ink solids have been depleted, what remains is a significant quantity of hydrocarbon solvent, possibly contaminated with charged particles and resin.

Current U.S. Environmental Health Regulations will not allow hydrocarbon solvents to be disposed of in a landfill without alteration.

Regulations also prohibit shipping such liquid and hazardous waste for recycling while the waste is in liquid form.

In the liquid electrophotographic art, these preceding solutions are not viable alternatives due to the hazardous nature of the solvent and the severe limitations placed on the shipment and disposal of the liquid.

In any case, a quantity of liquid solvent still remains, and, unless it is recycled for use in the apparatus, it cannot remain in the system.

Most of the countries of the world maintain environmental health and safety regulations; and most of those countries do not allow liquid hazardous waste to be transported through regular delivery channels.

Most of those countries also do not permit landfilling of liquid hazardous waste.

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